Everyone gathers in the office, and I sit at the chair behind the desk. I can’t decide how I feel about being here, in this seat. Just when it had started to feel like my place, my world was turned upside down again.
After Cherry and I announce that we are still getting married, I turn the meeting over to Kate. I shift in my seat a little as she goes over everything about the treaty in front of everyone. Nora asks a lot of questions, looking at me but getting her answers from Kate.
“I don’t care,” Twos suddenly blurts out. “What difference does it make now? Nate’s in charge, and that’s good enough for me.”
“Me, too,” Antony and Threes say together.
“We were already planning on Cherry becoming a member of this family,” Nora says, “so that’s a moot point. Nate, you are my brother—period. I don’t care what genetics or the treaty says about that.”
“As much as I appreciate the sentiment,” I say, “things are still going to change.”
“We definitely need to have
all of this sorted out,” Antony says. “Nate is a Ramsay, and we can’t just ignore that.”
“Well, he’ll be an official member of this family as soon as he marries Cherry,” Nora says. “He’s an Orso one way or another.”
“This actually would make things better as far as our reputation goes,” Antony says. “Cherry still needs to change her legal name, of course. From the outside, nothing looks like it’s changed.”
“Who cares?” Nora replies. “Nate’s a part of the family. As the eldest child of the family, I say so.”
“Thanks for stepping up, Nora,”—I grin at her—“since I do not plan on continuing my position as the decision maker around here.”
“Nate, you don’t have to do that,” Threes says. “We want you right where you are. You gotta know that.”
“I do know that, and as much as I appreciate it, this is the decision I’ve made. It’s not about me being a Ramsay or an Orso—this is about me doing what’s best for Cherry and our baby.”
Everyone goes quiet as they all take turns looking at each other’s expressions.
“Yes, Cherry is pregnant,” Nora says, “and it’s fantastic news. In fact, it’s just what we need in this family, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave.”
“Yeah,” Antony says, “what Nora said. We don’t want anything to change, boss.”
“It’s what I want,” I say again. “This isn’t a topic I’m going to debate. Cherry and I will get married in two weeks, and I will be stepping down right after.”
“Don’t think this means I’m happy about that idea.” She glares at me. “What exactly are you going to do if you aren’t leading us?”
I glance away, but when I look back, I can see in Nora’s eyes that she already knows what I plan to do.
“Cherry and I will be leaving Cascade Falls,” I say firmly. “I’m not cutting ties with you as my family, but I am stepping down, and I will no longer be a part of the family business.”
“You can’t just walk out,” Antony says. “In fact, with everything going on, we should be keeping all of this under wraps, especially you and Cherry. Some people wouldn’t understand.”
“How do we keep it under wraps with the Ramsays out there?” Twos interjects. “They’ll spill. They’ll even tell people you two are siblings and start all kinds of rumors.”
“Not happening,” I say. “I don’t want Cherry to live like that, not after everything she’s already been through.” I look over at Cherry and give her a slight smile. “It won’t matter once we’re gone anyway.”
“So, you really are leaving?” Nora says softly. “You’re just going to pick up and go, forget you were ever part of this family?”
“I’m not going to forget the family, Nora. Cherry and I will retain the family name. I am not a Ramsay; I don’t care who my birth parents are. Regardless, we are not going to be involved in the family business, and that means leaving town…permanently.”
“We’ve thought about this a lot,” Cherry says. “I don’t want to give you all up—I’m thrilled that I’m in this family—but I don’t want to be a part of the family business, and we can’t stay here.”
“My first priority is to keep Cherry and the baby safe and happy,” I say, looking directly at Nora. “I know that changes a lot, but it’s what I have to do, and I need all of you to respect that.”
Again, silence looms over the room for a minute, and Nora refuses to look at me.
“Well, what’s the alternative?” Antony finally asks.